Menu selector and recorder



4 Sept. 10, 1946. FQL|$ 2,407,411

MENU SELECTOR AND RECORDER Filed May 25, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.4

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INVENTOR.

- FRANK L. Falls BY Sept 10, 1946. F. L. FOLIS 2,407,411

' MENU SELECTOR AND RECORDER H5 E I955 INVENTOR. .F/aa/m 1.. P01. 15. Y

Sept. 10, 1946. mus 2,401,411

MENU SELECTOR AND RECORDER Filed May 25. 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Lq 17M J U" I I Paws;

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I I I 9- 770 TABLE 011 T MENU ' FRANK L.-FOLI INVENTOR.

Sept. 10, 19 46. v FL|$ 2,407,411

' MENU SELECTOR AND RECORDER Filed May 25, 1944 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 g INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 10, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MENU SELECTOR AND RECORDER Frank L. Folis, Memphis, Tenn. Application May 25, 1944., Serial No. 537,341

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to mechanisms for cafes, restaurants, or the like, through which the customers or patrons may indicate on a recording mechanism, in the serving room or kitchen where the order is to be filled, the choice or choices which the have made from a menu, and the table at which the order was given and to which it is to be delivered.

At the present time in cafes and the like, the patron gives his order to a waiter who, mentally or in writing, makes a note of the order and turns the same in orally, or otherwise, to the kitchen or serving room where the order is filled for subsequent delivery to the customer. The order is often incorrectly noted by the waiter, or perhaps incorrectly given by the customer, in either event causing dissatisfaction and dispute, but whether this be true or not, much time of the Waiter is consumed while the customer makes his selection, and in many cases vdawdles over the order.

Th present invention contemplates the selection and indication by the patrons at the various tables or stations of the orders which they wish to place and the recording .of these orders on suitable printing mechanisms in the serving room or kitchen where the order is to be filled.

In carrying this out, selector mechanisms are provided, one for each of the tables respectively, at which the orders are to originate. These select-ors are connected by individual electric circuits to a recording and printing mechanism in the serving room. Each of the selectors carries a number identifying the station at which it is placed, and at each use of the selector this numher is recorded on the printing mechanism. The patron operates the selector to set up herein the number of the item on the menu card which he desires, and having set up his selection completes the giving of the order by closing the electric circuits to the recording mechanism which prints the number of the order given and the number of the station from which the order was sent, the order being subsequently filled from the printed memorandum thus made and the deliver A of the order to the table manually effected.

The objects of the invention are: To provide means through which the patron at a table may select and indicate at a remote point the order which he desires filled, and mechanism I on which the selections made may be set up for individual transmission; and

To provide suitable mechanism through which operation of a tabulating and printing mechanism, preferably of well known type, may be effected by remote control from such stations.

The means by which these objects are accomplished, and the manner of their accomplishment, will readily be understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the selector mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a typical form of tabulating mechanism having banks of keys which may be individually depressed to set up desired numbers, and be subsequently actuated in usual manner to print on a tape the numbers so set up and release the keys, and showing in connection therewith key-depressing devices through which the depression of the keys of the tabulator is accomplished.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the key-board of the recording mechanism, or tabulator, with the depressing mechanisms in place, the tabulator shown having eight banks of keys, four banks only of which are used in the present mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of a paper tape on which the tabulating mechanism has printed a selected menu number and the booth or table number from which the order was sent in, the tape showing a single order of menu item H! from table or booth 58.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary portion of a menu card showing items on the menu, and their numbers, for order purposes, and the price of the item corresponding.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken on the center line of the selector mechanism, being the line VI-VI of Fig. 7; and

Fig. '7 a sectional plan taken on the line VII-VII of Fig.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6, and showing selector fingers set up.

Fig. 9 a corresponding enlarged fragmentary plan of the selector finger set up, taken on the line IXIX of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a View showing in plan a major part of the rim of a selector dial, the remainder of the dial being broken away to show the selector disc in plan, and the underlying fingers, the view also showing diagrammatically the circuits from the dial and the fingers to the tabulating and recording mechanism, the dial selected for U illustration being that for table number 58 and the item selected from the menu being number i9.

Fig. 11 is a similar diagrammatic view showing a plurality of the operating circuits, discs for these tables being shown.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

The selector includes a base III of circular form, having a cover II 3. also circular in form, which cooperates with the base to establish a casing in which the mechanism of the selector is housed, the casing being preferably of dielectric material. I I4 is a signal light.

The mechanism comprises a selector dial II5 which is concentric with and rigidly secured to a quill shaft III journalled in the cover II3 of the casing, the upper end of the shaft being suitably secured to a knob II9 which may be manually turned and which when turned correspondingly turns the dial, the knob II9 resting on the top of the cover H3 and supporting the dial.

The edge of the dial is provided with notches II5A which are numbered consecutively from 1 upward, in the present instance there being seventy-two of these notches consecutively numbered to such number.

The casing carries a bracket IZI in which is mounted a spring-pressed detent I23 which successively engages the notches and holds the dial from time to time during shift. The casing cover is provided with a suitable hole or opening I25 through which the numbers on the dial are successively visible, in the present illustrations, the number I9 being in register with this opening, indicating that item I9 on the menu card has been selected.

Disposed through the knob H9 and the quill shaft II I is a depressible plunger I2'I, preferably having a button I29 on its upper end, which button and plunger may be depressed after proper selection has been made to actuate certain electrical circuits, hereinafter to be described.

The dial H5 and the quill shaft II! are of metal, the plunger I21 preferably being of dielectric material. Underlying the dial and rigidly secured thereto is a disc I3I of dielectric material, this disc having holes I33A, I33B, I330, etc., in groups of nine therethrough, all of the holes I33A lying in a path concentric with the center of the disc and the holes I33B, I330, etc., being arranged in similar paths. Each respectively of the holes designated by the letters A also lies on a radial line through a unit digit 1, and of the B, C, etc., respectively of the numbers designating the notches on the dial.

The disc is additionally provided with slots I35A, I35B, etc., which are also concentric with the disc, these slots respectively embracing arouate sectors corresponding with the tens of the dial numbers, and respectively embracing the numbers through 19; through 29, etc., there being seven of these concentric slots corresponding to the groups of numbers from 10 to '70 inclusive.

Underlying the disc I3I are two groups of contact or sensing fingers I 31, I 39, the fingers of the group I3! respectively underlying the concentric paths of the unit holes I33A, I33B, etc., respectively, and the fingers I39 similarly underlying respectively the concentric slots I35.

The fingers I31, I39 are preferably carried by a horizontal bolt I4I, around which is a sleeve I43 of dielectric material, the fingers being spaced along the sleeve and insulated the one from the others by dielectric collars I45, I M. The fingers are resilient and have upwardly projecting contact points I69 adapted to pass through the holes, or slots, as the case may be, into contact with the overlying dial H5, and being urged toward such contact as by a support I5I.

Also disposed in the casing is a post I53 of dielectric material, which carries three resilient metal tongues I55, I51 and I59, the upper of these tongues I extending into underlying re lation with the plunger I21, being depressible thereby, and preferably resiliently supporting the plunger and restoring it to initial position after such depression. The outer ends of the tongues I51 and I59 are connected to the tongue 55 by a spacing member IGI of dielectric material for concurrent depression when the arm I55 is depressed. The post I53 also carries an additional set of tongues I55A, I51A and I59A respectively underlying the tongues 555, I5! and I59, both sets of tongues carrying contact points for effecting circuit closures, the tongues I55, I55A establishing when closed a first circuit, hereinafter called a control circuit, the tongues I51, I5'IA, a second or menu circuit and the tongues I59, I59A a third or table circuit.

The recording or tabulating mechanism comprises a well known type of tabulating machine having keys which are depressible and an electrically actuatable mechanism for operating the tabulator to print on a tape, numbers set up by the depression of the keys.

In Figs. 2 and 3, IBI is the casing of a machine having keys I53 in banks of 1 to 9, which are depresible to set up the numbers to be printed, the machine shown having eight such banks, of which four only are used. The mechanism also has a trip device I which may be electrically operated, to cause the numbers set up by key depression, to be printed and to release the keys, such mechanisms being of well known type and in general use.

Mounted on the tabulator I6I are frames I61 and I69 which respectively carry groups of solenoids which overlie banks of keys of the tabulator. In the present instance the frame I61 carries two groups of the solenoids I6'IA, IG'IB, respectively overlying banks of the keys of the tabulator in ten and unit relation, and the fram I69 likewise two groups I69A, IS9B, in similar relation with an additional two banks of keys. Each of the solenoids respectively has its plunger, as the plunger I63, connected through a rod I68A and compression spring I683 into depressing contact will a key, as the key IB3A.

Each selector mechanism is connected to the recording mechanism by three electric circuits, herein designated respectively as the control circuit, the menu circuit, and the table circuit, which are energized from a suitable source of power, as a power line IlIA, IIIB, a typical set of these circuits, for table 58 as typical, being diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10, and the set up for a number of tables in Fig. 11. From one lead IIIA of the power line, leads I13, I15 and I'll extend respectively to the tongues I55, I51 of the menu, and I59 of the table circuits.

To set up the menu circuit, a lead II5A is extended from the tongue I5IA through complementary contacts I'I5B, I'I5C, and lead I'I5D, to and through detent I23 to a contact with the metal dial II5.

Underlying the dial and the disc I3I the fingers I31, for the most part insulated from such dial by the disc, are respectively connected through leads I15E to the solenoids ISSA which overlie the tens bank of keys, and the fingers I39 through leads I151 to the solenoids SSB, which overlie the related unit bank of keys. All of the solenoids I69A, I693 are connected through joint return leads I15G, I'I5H to the other lead I1IB of the power line.

The return lead I15H is in circuit through a solenoid I19 which has its plunger I19A in abutting relation with a resilient arm I89 biased toward such plunger and overlying the trip device I65 of the tabulator, the solenoid being energized to depress the arm and operate the trip when the circuit just above described is completed. A. signal light 'I8I in circuit with the return lead I15H may be provided if desired.

To set up the table circuit, a lead I'I'IA is eX- tended from the tongue I 59A, and through branch leads H113 and "16 to the solenoids I81A, I613 over the five and eight keys of ten and unit related bank respectively of the tabulator, the circuit being respectively completed through the return leads I11D and I11E to the return lead I'I5H, and thence to the power line.

To set up the control circuit, which is a joint circuit for all the tables, the lead I 13 is continued by a lead I13A from the tongue I55A to a contact I83, and continues from a complementary contact I83A through a lead I13B to a solenoid I85, from which a return lead I130 establishes the return circuit to the power line lead I1IB. Solenoid I85 and related parts are preferably mounted in a casing I31 disposed in adjacency to or mounted as shown on the side of the tabulator IN.

The plunger I85A of the solenoid carries on its upper end the contact I15B of the menu circuits, breaking these circuits when the solenoid is energized, and on its lower end a latch member 1853, with which a latch I99 engages when energization occurs, the latch holding the plunger depressed until released. Latch member I SEE carries a laterally extending arm I9I on which the contact I83 is mounted. Arm ISI also carries an additional contact I93 which cooperates with a complementary contact I93A tomak and break a joint circuit to the signal lights II I, this circuit comprising a lead I95 from the power line to the contact I93A, a lead !95A from the contact I93 to the lights H4, and a return lead I953 to the power line. Mounted along the side of the solenoid I85 is a dash-pot I91, having a piston I91A, and piston rod I 9113 which is secured at its lower end to the arm NH and delays the rate of movement of the solenoid plunger I35A.

Adjacent the latch I89 is an electro-magnet I99 which cooperates with the latch to release the solenoid plunger I85A. Magnet I99 is energized by a circuit, including leads I99A from the power line to a contact I993, carried by an exttension of the arm I80 beyond the tabulator trip I555, a complementary contact I99C, a lead I991) therefrom to the magnet, and a return lead I99E from the magnet to the power line, the arm I89 normally holding the contact 5993 away from the contact I99C and interrupting the circuit.

To set up the system, the tabulator is equipped with the key-depressing mechanisms, one for selecting table numbers and the other for selecting menu numbers. Selectors are disposed one at each of the tables or stations at which orders are to originate, and electrical circuits from these selectors are set up to the key-depressing mechanisms and the tabulator operating mechanism.

When set up and the current is turned on, the lights H4 on the various selectors at the tables are all burning. The patron at any table, as the table 58, selected and used hereinbefore for illustration, determines from the menu the number of the selection on the menu which he desires to order and turns the dial of his selector until the selected number showsup beneath the window I in the casing of the selector, the detent I23 centering the number in correct position and holding the dial against accidental displacement during subsequent operations. turned, to the number I9, used throughout as an example, the arcuate slot I35A in the disc [3i is positioned over the finger I 31A, permitting that finger to contact the dial I5, and the hole IESJ in the disc is positioned over the finger I39J, allowing that finger also to contact the dial.

After the dial is positioned, the patron depresses the button I29 closing the circuits through the tongues I59, I559A; I51, I51A; and I55, I55A respectively, and actuating the various mechanisms controlled by these circuits. Closure of the circuit through the tongues I59, I59A completes from the table, in the selected instance, table 58,

with the leads I11, I'I'I'A, the parallel leads I15B,

I150, and the return leads I11D, I11H, parallel circuits to the solenoids respectively overlying the 5 key and the 3 key of the related ten and unit banks of keys of the tabulato-r, depressing these keys and setting up the number 58 for printing on the tape.

Concurrently, contact of the tongues I51, I51A completes a lead, including leads I15, I15A, contacts I158, 515C, leads I15 and the detent I23 to the dial I I5, and through the dial and fingers I31A and IESJ completes parallel leads through related one of the leads I'IEE and H514 to the solenoids overlying the unit numbers 1 and 9 keys of the second related tens and unit banks of keys on the tabulator, the circuits being completed through joint return leads I'IEG and I'IEH, and causing actuation of the solenoids L-O depress the keys 1 and 9 and set up in thetabulator the number 19 for printing.

The return leads IIEH of these circuits passes through the solenoid I19 over the depressor key I E5 of the tabulator printing and reset mechanisrn, concurrently energizing the solenoid and depressing the key. This action, however, is delayed by the resistance of the resilient arm I sufficiently to allow the substantially instantaneous actuation of the tabulator keys before action of the printing mechanism and trip.

Concurrently with closure of the just described circuits through the tongues I51, I51A; I59, I59A, circuit is completed through the tongues I55, I55A and the contacts carried thereby from the power line through the leads I13, USA, the contacts I83, I83A, the leads H313 and the return lead I136 to energize the solenoid I55 and depress the plunger I85A, and the latching member I 89A thereof, into latchin engagement with the latch I39, and also breaking the circuit through the contacts I153, I150, and separating the contacts IE3, IRA; and I93, IfiliA; respectively breaking the circuit to the solenoid I85, and the circuit I95, IA, I953 through the lights H4 and causing these lights to go out, indicating to all the tables that selection is at that instant being made 'at one of the tables.

As the tabulator solenoid I19 completes its action the contacts I99B and I99C are closed completing the release circuit through leads [99A, ISQD to the magnet I99 and from this magnet through the lead IQSE, retracting the latch (69 and releasing the latch mechanism i853, completing the operations.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a tabulating mechanism having depressible keys in banks, and electrically actuated printing and clearing mechanisms, including a depressible key for initiating actuation thereof; two groups of solenoids respectively disposed in operative relation above keys of adjacent said banks, and an additional solenoid overlying said actuating mechanism key; and control and energizing means including a source of electric current; actuators positioned respectively at each of a plurality of stations, each said actuator includin a circuit selector, open circuits energizable by said source extending respectively each from a said actuator to said tabulator, a first of said circuit including open leads extending in parallel from said actuator each respectively to a solenoid of one said group; a second said circuit including a plurality of leads insulated from said selector and extending therefrom each respectively to a solenoid of the second said groups, all said circuits including a joint return lead through said additional solenoid to said current source, said actuators each respectively including means manually 1- operable to shift said selector into electrical contact with desired leads of said second group, and manually operable means for closing all said circuits leading therefrom.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a tabulating mechanism having depressible keys in banks, and electrically actuated printing and clearing mechanisms, including a depressible key for initiating actuation thereof; two groups of solenoids respectively disposed in operative relation above keys of adjacent said banks, an additional solenoid overlying said actuating mechanism key, and an action delaying arm interposed between said latter solenoid and key; and con" trol and energizing means including a source of electric current; actuators positioned respectively at each of a plurality of stations, each said actuator including a circuit selector, open circuits energizable by said source extending respectively each from a said actuator to said tabulator, a first of saidcircuits including open leads extending in parallel from said actuator each respec tively to a solenoid of one said group; a second said circuit including a plurality of leads insulated from said selector and extending therefrom each respectively to a solenoid of the second said group, all said circuits including a joint return lead through said additional solenoid to said current source, said actuators, each respectively, including means manually operable to shift its said selector into electrical contact with desired leads of said second group, and manually operabl means for closing all said circuits.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a tabulating mechanism having depressible keys in banks, and electrically actuated printing and clearing mechanisms including a depressible key for initiating actuation thereof; two groups of solenoids respectively disposed in operative relation above keys of adjacent said banks, an additional so1enoid overlying said actuating mechanism key, and an action delaying arm overl ing said latter key; and signal means; and control and energizing means including a source of electric current, actuators positioned respectively at each of a plurality of stations, each said actuator including a circuit selector, open circuits energizable by said source extending respectively each from a said actuator to said tabulator, a first of said circuit including a pair of leads extending in parallel from said actuator to a pair of solenoids of one said group; a second said circuit including a plurality of leads insulated from said selector and extending therefrom, each respectively to one of the solenoids of the second said group, both said circuits including a joint return lead through said additional solenoid to said current source; said signal means including lights, respectively each mounted on one of said actuators, a circuit energized by said power source carrying all of said lights, said circuit including a pair of separable contacts, a solenoid, carrying means for separating said contacts on energization of said solenoid, means latching said contacts in open position, open leads, in said actuator, in circuit with said solenoid, said leads including contacts separable by energization of said solenoid; means for releasing said solenoid latching means, including an electric magnet, leads from said power source to said magnet including normally separated contacts, one of which contacts is carried by said action delaying arm and movable therewith into closure contact with the other thereof; said actuators each respectively including means manually operable to shift said selector into electrical contact with desired leads of said second group, and manually operable means for closing all said circuits leading therefrom, including said contacts to said contact separating solenoid.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a tabulating mechanism having depressible keys in banks, and electrically actuated printing and clearing mechanisms, including a depressible key for initiating actuation thereof; two groups of solenoids respectively disposed in operative relation above keys of adjacent said banks, an additional solenoid overlying said actuating mechanism key; and control and energizing means including a source of electric current; actuators positioned respectively at each of a plurality of stations, and including a first circuit having leads extending in parallel therefrom each respectively to a solenoid of one said group; a second said circuit including a plurality of leads extending fromv said selector respectively to all the solenoids of the second said group, both said circuits including a joint return lead through said additiona1 solenoid to said current sources; said actuators each respectively including a selector comprising a current transmitting dial having a pluralit of number identified notches peripherally therearound, a notch engaging detent, a circuit lead through said detent to said dial, a disc of insulating material underlying said dial and fingers, corresponding in number to the leads of said second circuit, and respectively each connected to a said lead, said fingers underlying and being biased toward contact with said insulating disc and dial, said disc having openings therethrough respectively corresponding with numbered notches on said dial through which finger contact with said dial is established, means manually operable to position said dial to establish desired said contacts, and manually operable means for closing all said circuits.

FRANK L. FOLIS. 

